Pakistan angry at Deepak's irresponsible statement
PakistanPal
KARACHI - Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has termed
the recent statement of Chief of Indian Army as absurd and very
irresponsible saying it was against India's own interests besides it
would also damage the process of bringing all South Asian counties
closer to each other for peace and economic prosperity of the region.
"We extended a hand to Iran for peace and stability in the region," he
added.
He categorically stated that Pakistan could not be threatened by the
Indian Army Chief's irresponsible statement.
General Kapoor had said he was willing to take on Pakistan as well as
China should the need arise.
"I am surprised at the statement of the Indian Army Chief. On one the
hand, India talks of dialogue while on the other, it (New Delhi)
itself backtracks on its own words. Gen Kapoor has done no service to
his country or this region by giving such a statement," Foreign
Minister Qureshi remarked while talking to mediamen at the residence
of Sindh Minister for Population Welfare Syed Ali Mardan Shah where he
condoled with the provincial minister on death of his father.
He said Indian Army chief's remarks were against India's own interests
besides it would also damage the process of bringing all South Asian
counties closer to each other for peace and economic prosperity of the
region.
"We are a responsible and foresighted nation, and do not believe in
any kind of sensation." he added
"I would call it an absurd statement. It doesn't fit to a person
holding such an important and responsible position," he remarked,
saying that the Foreign Office and the ISPR had given a proper
response to the Indian Army Chief statement.
Qureshi said he was always very careful in his statements; keeping in
view the interests of the country, the nation and the region. The
government has adopted very responsible and balanced attitude, he
said, adding that Islamabad had not accepted any outside pressure and
would not do in future as well.
"Our political and army leadership had already duly condemned the
Indian Army Chief's statement.
He said the government wanted to continue composite dialogue with
India which has proved helpful in resolution of various issues between
the two neighbours and strengthening the bilateral ties.
Responding a question, Qureshi said, "The PML-N is our allied party
and the past opponents have been made allies in Punjab", adding that
despite majority in Sindh, the MQM was made ally.
He said after Benazir Bhutto's martyrdom, the PPP did not become
aggravated as they did not want destruction and bloodshed in the
country, rather wanted peace in the country.
To another question, he said China was a very trusted friend of
Pakistan and was still playing very important role in Pakistan's
development. The present government, Foreign Ministry and President
Asif Ali Zardari had always focused on further promoting Pak-China
friendship, which was initiated by founder of Pakistan People's Party
and former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
About Iran, the FM said that PPP-led government has succeeded in
reviving and strengthening ties with Iran. "We have enhanced
interaction and coordination on different fronts including diplomatic
one and there were frequent visits of delegations of government
functionaries of both the countries," he stated.
He said the government had achieved very good progress in gas pipeline
project with Iran which had remained in doldrums for the last 25
years.
About Afghanistan, Qureshi said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were taking personal interest in promotion
of ties with Afghanistan.
President Zardari was the only head of the state who attended the
swearing-in ceremony of Hamid Karzai as Afghan President for the
second time. He informed media that he had invited the foreign
ministers of Iran and Afghanistan to Islamabad so that a clear and
joint regional approach be adopted in the international conference
scheduled to be held in London on January 28, 2010.
When his opinion was sought on Pakistan's position in SAARC, the
Foreign Minister said. "We have strengthened bilateral ties with Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh."
He referred to his recent meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sh
Hassina who extended invitation for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
to visit Bangladesh. However, he said Pak-India relations directly
influenced SAARC affairs.
To another question, Qureshi said some Pakistanis were still in Indian
prisons and the same was true for India. As a confidence-building
measure, Pakistan recently released 100 Indian fishermen and India
also reciprocated. "We have exchanged lists of the prisoners to work
on the issue," he said.
He praised the role of joint judicial committee with senior Judges.
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